14 – Episode 14
I met Seoa again on Sunday to study, and the next morning…
“I’ll be back.”
“Yeah, did you have fun with Seoa yesterday~?”
“No… I studied.”
“Mom will come home late again today, so make sure to eat well.”
“Got it.”
My mom and dad cleared the way for us to study at home yesterday, so Seoa and I started studying together on Sunday.
As I left the house, I thought if I had forgotten anything in my bag, and I set off for school.
It was the same ordinary and mundane road, but before I knew it, I arrived at school along that path.
“Hey.”
And in the distance, I saw Seokho, so I called out to him, and he turned around and approached me with a smile.
“You seem to be in a good mood today.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yeah, you. You rarely smile like that.”
“Me?”
After a moment of thought, Seokho asked, “By the way, what did you do over the weekend?”
“Why?”
“Well, I heard you didn’t have any offline classes, so I was curious.”
“Oh… I studied. Isn’t the exam just a week away?”
“Really?”
“But you were playing games?”
Seeing my bewildered expression, Seokho smiled and said, “Of course I studied and played games.”
Somehow, it doesn’t seem right, but Seokho is actually good at studying.
“Anyway, let’s go inside.”
So, Seokho and I went into the classroom, attended our classes, and met Seoa from time to time, passing the time. Lunchtime was approaching.
“Hey, guys, let’s have lunch!”
“Got it.”
“Let’s go, Jihun.”
Now, the four of us, who had become familiar, and the people around us were no longer amazed by Seokho and me having lunch with Seoa.
It’s strange that I find it fascinating every day.
“What?!”
And after finishing our meal, we went to the quiet library and started talking.
“Shh, let’s be quiet.”
“Oh, sorry, Seo-ah. By the way, did she go home?!”
Park Seo-hyun looked at me in surprise.
“Yeah… I’m sorry, I said I wouldn’t go.”
“No, there must have been a reason, I understand.”
“Thank you.”
While the two of us were talking like that,
“Oh… so it was offline?”
“Didn’t you hear what Seo-ah said? I was studying.”
“So you left me behind and studied with her?”
“Hey…”
Seok-ho pretended to be annoyed and looked bewildered.
Well, he used to see me playing games every weekend, so he must have been surprised when I suddenly stopped.
“Lucky bastard.”
Or maybe not.
Anyway, we talked for a while and then returned to our studies with renewed determination. And on Friday,
“Alright then, go home and study well. You know we have exams starting next Monday.”
With those words, the teacher left the classroom, and we let out a sigh of relief.
“Phew… Finally, it’s over.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“You guys seem to be studying hard these days.”
At that moment, Hyun-sik approached us.
“Oh, Hyun-sik, you’re here?”
“Yeah, by the way, Seok-ho, it’s impressive that you’re studying too. Is it because of Seo-a?”
“…No, not really.”
“Or maybe it’s true. I’ve seen it from the side.”
As soon as I sent a death glare to Seok-ho, I ran away.
“hahahahaha, alright, got it. Anyway, study hard.”
“Yeah, you too.”
That’s how we met at the library, as usual.
“Why are you so late?”
As soon as I arrived, Park Seo-hyun looked at us and complained about being late.
“Well, our class ended and we came straight here.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, hey Park Seo-hyun, come here.”
“Eek! You pervert! Get away!”
They seemed to have become close in their own way, just like Seo-ah and I had.
“Ah! You little punk, you’re trying to grab my hair?”
“I-I mean, run… Ah! Ouch!? Ouch! Sorry!”
Isn’t it strange..?
Anyway, when we entered the library, Seo-ah was studying diligently.
“You’re here?”
“Yeah, I was studying.”
“Yeah… I’m not sure if I’ll do well on the test next week.”
“Well, if it’s you, you’ll do well.”
When I said that, Park Seo-hyun nodded in agreement.
“So, we’re meeting this weekend?”
As Seok-ho said that, we looked at each other.
“Maybe?”
“I’m… fine with it.”
“Then, are we meeting at his place?”
Wait a minute… Does that mean I have to go home and, um, clean everything up? Or should I…
“Let’s do it at my house.”
That’s when Seo-hyun said.
“Oh, your place?”
“Yeah, isn’t that a good idea? Seo-ah?”
“Huh? Yeah, got it.”
Although it felt somewhat regretful, that’s how we decided to meet at Park Seohyun’s house.
“Well then, take care.”
“You too.”
As we parted ways and headed back home,
Seoa decided to listen to Seohyun’s explanation of where her house was and we agreed to communicate through text messages.
“But Seoa, I heard that your family is really strict.”
Suddenly, Seokho said.
“Huh?”
“I mean, you don’t even carry a mobile phone. Normally, you should have a feature phone or something, right?”
I didn’t say anything in response to that question.
“Just read the messages and say goodbye.”
“Huh? Got it. Go inside.”
Seokho went inside, looking confused, and I walked home, saying goodbye.
And then, in a text message, Seohyun wrote down the location of her house.
And the next morning,
“Well then, I’ll be going.”
“Yeah~”
After saying goodbye to my parents, I went to the designated location.
“Is this the place?”
From Noble mtl dot com
I entered the apartment complex and looked around.
“Hey!”
When I turned back at Seokho’s voice, there he was.
“Oh, you’re here. Where were you?”
I asked, and Seokho pointed his finger towards building 105.
“Over there.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
“Sure.”
So, we stood at the entrance of the apartment complex and pressed the button with the written apartment number.
“Yes?”
Seoa’s voice came through.
“Oh? Seoa?”
“Jihun? Seohyun, how do I press this…?”
We waited for a moment like that.
Ding!
“Come in.”
So, the door opened and we entered the apartment.
We pressed the button and waited for the elevator.
“Hey, aren’t you nervous about something?”
“What?”
“I… It’s my first time coming to her place,” Seokho said nervously. He was trying to appear calm, but it was clear he was on edge whenever there were only women around.
“Just think of it as visiting someone else’s house, nothing special just because it’s a girl’s place. Is it a princess’s room or something?”
“Well… But still, I’m nervous!”
Ding!
At that moment, the door opened.
“Seoa?”
“Yes! I came to pick you up. Let’s go upstairs.”
And so, after meeting Seoa, our conversation was momentarily interrupted.
“There’s not much time left for the exam now.”
“Yeah, how are you feeling, Seoa?”
“I’ll do my best, of course. How about you, Seokho?”
“Me? Uh… Well, I’m doing okay.”
Honestly, I’m not worried about him. He’s not incapable or anything.
“Let’s go inside.”
Dingdong.
“Yes, I’ll open it for a moment.”
We could hear sounds from inside.
Clank.
Crash.
“Welcome.”
Park Seo-hyun greeted us, and we entered inside.
“Wow, it’s high.”
“Have you never lived in an apartment before?”
“Well, I’ve always lived on the 2nd or 3rd floor.”
“Well, enjoy the view to your heart’s content.”
While Seok-ho and Park Seo-hyun were having their little exchange, we exchanged greetings.
“You settled in well yesterday.”
“Yeah, and by the way, what did you bring to study?”
“I brought my notes from the last exam and the one before that.”
“Ah, I see. Looks like I’ve got to bring mine for the exams on Monday and Tuesday.”
“Yes, teacher.”
“Let’s go to our rooms. There’s no decent desk in the living room.”
Upon Park Seo-hyun’s words, I followed her into the room.
“Everyone, have a seat.”
Inside, there was a neat room.
“Ah…”
Seok-ho showed a disappointed expression, as if he was expecting something, and Park Seo-hyun noticed it too.
“What were you expecting?”
“Well, there was something like that.”
Did you really imagine a pink room?
Anyway, we sat in the room and did the organizing we couldn’t do on Friday, as well as the final review.
“This should be… well, at least in the 80s, right?”
“Really!?”
“No, we still have a long way to go, you idiot.”
“What!! This isn’t the right answer?!”
Seohyun seemed to be struggling with Korean more than I thought, and she was still studying with Seokho.
“With this, getting 100 points shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
“Thanks to you.”
“hehehe.”
Seoa and I had an easy time.
Seoa was good at studying, and I wasn’t arrogant, but I had a brain, so it was natural.
“Is there anything else to see?”
“Then, are we done?”
“Yeah, but we should review it again at home.”
“Of course.”
We had been studying steadily, so there was nothing else to see in the book, but
“Ugh… why am I the only one… Seoa, help meee.”
“Hey, isn’t this about you?”
Seokho, who is good at studying but doesn’t do it, and Seohyun, who works hard but can’t study, were the only ones left.
“Ugh, fine. What’s the problem?”
“Seohyun, cheer up! I’ll come with you.”
That’s how we taught the other two.
After studying like that,
“Ughhhhh… I’m tired, I want to play.”
“I’m tired too. Let’s go have fun after we’re done.”
“After the exams, don’t go to the PC bang like last time, as soon as it’s over.”
“Ugh…”
“Yeah, let’s go have fun after we’re done. It’s been two weeks, but we worked hard, right?”
Seohyun nodded at Park Seohyun’s words.
“Um…”
Seoa seemed a little uneasy.
“Then where do you want to go? A karaoke room?”
“Hmm… I want to go to the PC bang… but don’t look at me with those eyes that could kill.”
“I absolutely won’t go there, it smells like cigarettes.”
“…”
We talked about where to go, but Seoa still didn’t look happy.
“Seoa, where do you want to go?”
“Huh? Well… I mean…”
Seoa was taken aback and thought. Most of the things we’ve done so far required money, and unless we were just playing in the park, it always cost money.
“Let’s all go to the zoo.”
“The zoo? Suddenly?”
“Well, I can get tickets, so we can get in for free.”
When I said that, everyone’s eyes sparkled.
“But Jihoon might find it burdensome…”
“Don’t worry, Seoah. He’ll also get them, so we won’t have to pay.”
As Seokho said, Dad sometimes brings tickets. I heard that the boss gave them as a gift, but I’m not sure.
“So, after the exams, it’s the zoo?”
“I’m in favor. Who wouldn’t want it for free?”
“…I’m okay with it too.”
When I said that, Seoah smiled and thought to myself that I hope Seoah has good memories this time, unlike before.